Nyungwe Forest is a high-altitude, mountainous rainforest in southern Rwanda established as a forest reserve in 1933. The conservation area consists of approximately 378 square miles (970 square kilometres). The forest is located in the Albertine Rift, a series of mountain ranges beginning at the Rwenzori mountains in western Uganda and Congo, continuing south into the Lendu Plateau in eastern Congo. Contiguous with Kibira National Park in Burundi, Nyungwe is one of the largest mountainous rainforests remaining in Africa. Just recently the Nyungwe forest received National Park status, making it East and Central Africa’s largest protected high-altitude rainforest.
Animal life
Nyungwe has a wide diversity of animal species, making it a priority for conservation in Africa. The forest is situated in a region where several large-scale biogeographical zones meet and the variety of terrestrial biomes provides a great span of microhabitats for many different species of plants and animals. The park contains 13 different primate species (25% of Africa’s total), 275 bird species, 1068 plant species, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibians and 38 reptile species. Many of these animals are restricted-range species that are only found in the Albertine Rift ecoregion in Africa. In fact, the number of endemic species found here is greater than in any other forest in the Albertine Rift that has been surveyed.
Hiking
An extensive network of well-maintained walking trails leads through the forest to various waterfalls and viewing points. A comfortably rustic rest house and perfectly situated campsite lie alongside the main road, and the park can readily be visited as a day trip from the towns of Huye and Cyangugu. Nyungwe does however deserve more time: anybody who wants to track chimps and see several varieties of smaller primates will need two days there�and dedicated birdwatchers might never want to leave!
Canopy walk
Nyungwe forest national park canopy walk Rwanda
This is the first ever hanging platform which will allow tourists to view different animal species in the Nyungwe forest 180 feet high enclosing a green world of lesser trees, shrubs, vines bamboo and swamp. This is the first of its kind of tourism in East Africa and the third of its kind in Africa.
